Public Health Funding Announced

The Department of Health has confirmed the councils will receive a total of £2.66bn for public health for 2013-14 and almost £2.8bn for the following financial year.

The ring-fenced budget is higher than the £2.2bn originally mooted by ministers last year and will be distributed to local authorities when they take over public health responsibilities in April.

‘By putting local authorities in charge of public health, we are giving them the power, freedom and the funding to tackle the issues that blight their local areas and help improve the lives of their local communities. Improving the health of local people will be at the heart of everything they do – from social care to transport, housing, planning and environment,’ said health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

The chief executive designate of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, said: ‘We welcome this investment and look forward to working alongside local government as they take on their new leadership responsibilities for health and wellbeing.’